DVD Review: Slayer - "Live Intrusion"

For metalheads, seeing
Slayer live for the first
time is a cathartic experience.
Their concerts
are legendarily intense,
with a non-stop barrage
of punk-infused
thrash that the band
pioneered decades
ago. Until recently,
getting to see Slayer
live had been easier than tracking down their
long-out-of-print live DVDs, 2003’s War at the
Warfield and 2004’s Still Reigning. Slayer fans
have long suspected video footage of the
band’s March 12, 1995, performance existed,
and the notion was reinforced by statements
from fellow metal bands Machine Head and
Biohazard. The band has decided to reissue
these coveted videos with an additional,
unreleased volume entitled Live Intrusion,
which shows the band during their 1995
Divine Intervention tour.

The video shooting style here, while paying
equal attention to each member of the
band, is frustratingly typical of mid-’90s rock
videos—there are way too many viewpoint
changes to focus on anything, including the
great set list. As annoying as that is, you
could argue that it represents the chaotic
nature of the band’s live show. Both the video
and sound quality stand up well, especially
for a recording made over 15 years ago on
a high-end VHS master tape. One of the
disc’s real treats is the cover Venom’s classic
“Witching Hour,” which finds the band being
joined onstage by Machine Head’s Robb
Flynn and Chris Kontos. That performance is
almost worth the price of admission alone.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jordan grew up traveling the country as the son of theater technical directors and speech instructors. His exposure to the performing arts early on helped foster his love for music and attention to detail, and upon receiving his first guitar at age 15, he became hooked. Jordan brings a considerable background of gear knowledge and tech experience to Premier Guitar, and has contributed an extensive amount of articles, artist interviews and Rig Rundown videos since late 2008. He lives in the Iowa City area, where he also works to bring music education initiatives to both local and regional communities.